Key row marker



- Oct. 3, 1961 F. E. HOLLADAY KEY ROW MARKER Filed Jan. 6, 1958 m 00508552 .9 @QQQQUQQQQDQ j UUUUU Of UUUHUU Q UUUUUUDU W UOUUUUQHW UUDDUUDU v UDUDUDDHT DDUODODOOODR mfw A TTORNEY.

Unitfid Slate Par n g 3,002,688 KEY ROW MARKER Forrest E. Holladay, Ann Arbor, Mich., assignor to Burroughs Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan a Filed Jan. 6, 1958, Ser. No. 707,192 4 Claims. CL 235-145) This invention relates generally to key operated ma-,

chines, and particularly to key row markers for ,the keyboards of such machines. l

As is well known, key row markers for marking oif rows or groups of rows of keys on calculating and other machine keyboards are very helpful in aiding the machine operator to easily and quickly identify the keys corresponding to the several digit orders and groups of orders. In the past, key row markers have keen provided in the form of pointers slidable along a guide to desired, positions adjacent the front cross row of keys, but such markers were expensive and not entirely satisfactory, since they marked off, but didn't separate the key rows, thus making it necessary for the operator to visually tract the rows upward fromthe pointers. Another type of key row.

marker and one which effectively separates the keys by rows for easy visual recognition is a strip type marker that extendsbetween and coextensive of the rows of keys, but this type of marker has been expensive to make because the construction of the marker required that it be built into the keyboard, the usual practice being to mount the marker on a rotatable rod in bushings so that the marker could be rotated between visual and hidden positions for flexibility in making difierent marking arrangements and for holding the marker in place. The construction required that a marker be built-in between each pair of adjacent rows of keys inorder to attain flexibility in marking the rows, which, of course, added to thecost'of providing a" suitable marker system. V

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide a strip type key row marker of the above mentioned effective type, yet one which does not require expensive mountings to hold the marker in place.

Another object of the invention is to provide a readily removable strip type key row marker that can be easily moved from one keyboard position to another, as required.

Another object of the invention is to provide a readily removable strip type marker that is held in position between rows of keys solely by the keys.

A further object of the invention is to provide an effective yet inexpensive key row marker.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following detail description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which;

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a calculating machine keyboard and showing a number of my key row markers associated therewith;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, side view, partly broken away and in section;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one of my key row markers.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, the numeral 20 designates, in general, a calculating machine keyboard 20 of a well known type having a frame supporting structure including a lower plate 22, similar to and disposed below the keyboard. In the well known manner, the keyboard frame structure is mounted on and secured to the main frame of the machine, the keyboard being inclined upwardly from front to rear thereof.

Mounted on the keyboard 20 is a plurality of rows 7 Fatented Oct. 3, 1961,

2.4 of amount keys, the stems 26 of which are slidably guided in apertures in the keyboard 20 and in the lower frame plate 22. Extending above the keyboard 20, the key stems 26 are each provided with a finger button or key top28, the keys being arranged such that the key tops 28 are in stepped relationship from front to rear of the keyboard 20 for convenience of manipulation of the keys by the machine operator. The key tops 28 may be rectangular in configuration, as seen in plan view, although they may be of any other desired shape. In FIG. 1, for purposes of illustration, three of my key row markers designated generally by the numeral 30 are shown in positions on the keyboard, marking off the keys in accordance with the decimal system. That is, the markers are positioned so as to separate the keys into groups of rows corresponding to hundreds, thousands," etc., the first and second rows at the right of the amount keys being, of course, the cents keys. The markers 30 are flexible in the sense that they may be podtioned in any arrangement between the key rowsto satisfy the exigencies of any accounting system.

As with most present day accounting or calculating machines, the keyboard 20 includes other keys, such as a row- 32 of motor bar keys and two rows 34 of function control keys which on the present keyboard are con-' veniently grouped to the right of the amount keys, as seen in FIG. 1. .Mounted on the keyboard to the left of the amount key group are shown three rows 36 of 'keyswhich are data and symbol keys of the machine illustrated.

In order thatthe amount key rows 24 may be separated for quick visual recognition of the separated groups and so that this may be done inexpensively and with flexibility, the marker 30 is a readily removable elongated member that extends between key rows coextensive therewith, and is held in place solely by the keys; :As shown, the marker 30 may. be a laminated, member'comprisi ng two outer" metallic strips 38 and an innercolored strip '40 thatmay be of a suitable plastic material. The outer metallic strips 38 give some weight and rigidity to the marker whereas the inner strip of plastic material is readily available in a suitable color that will attract attention, such as red. The strips 38 and 40 are secured together broadside by rivets 42 although other suitable attaching means may be employed, the widths of the strips being alike and corresponding edges of the strips forming the top and bottom respectively of the marker 30. Preferably the bottom of the marker 30 is recessed or is under-cut, as at 43, providing a front foot 44 and a rear foot 46 to insure level seating of the marker on the keyboard 20.

To hold the marker 30 against longitudinal movement thereof down the inclined keyboard 20, I provide a holder to engage or hook behind at least one of the keys or key tops 28, the holder preferably being in the form of outtumed abutments or flanges 48 on the marker 30. Preferably the flanges 48 are provided on one end of the marker to engage or hook respectively behind the uppermost oppositely disposed pair of key tops of adjacent key rows. The'holding flanges 48 may be very economically provided by bending upper end portions of the metallic strips 38 outwardly as shown. Thus, the flanges 48 and the key tops 28 behind which the flanges hook are loosely engaged such that when the keys are depressed, the key tops slide vertically along the front faces of the flanges. In order that depression of the keys does not impart any movement to the marker, the flanges 48 are angularly disposed to the inclined keyboard such that they are parallel to the direction of movement of the key tops 28.

From the foregoing description, it will now be appreciated that my improved key row marker may be readily inserted between adjacent rows of keys and be readily removed for placement in other key row separating positions, thus providing flexibility of marking-01f sections of the keyboard suitable for difierent accounting operations. It will also be appreciated that my key row marker is inexpensive by reason of its construction and further because it is held in position against both longitudinal and transverse movement solely by the key tops. In this connection it will be apparent that the upper end of the marker could beadapted to hook behind the stems of the keys instead of behind the key tops and the stems of the keys might also serve to limit lateral movement of the marker, but such an adaptation would only accomplish the same result at increased cost.

I While I have shown and described my invention in considerable detail it will be understood that many variations of the invention may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention.

4 What I claim is:

1. In a calculating machine having an inclined keyboard and parallel rows of key tops thereabove in stepped relationship from the front of the keyboard upwardly and rearwardly to the uppermost key tops, a key row marker to rest on the keyboard between an adjacent pair of rows of the stepped key tops comprising, an elongated strip the side edges of which constitute respectively the top and bottom of the marker, the thickness of the strip being substantially equal to but less than the distance between opposed surfaces of laterally opposite key top for sliding engagement thereby, and outturned flanges on said strip to hook behind a pair of the laterally positioned key tops for sliding relationship therewith.

2. In a calculating machine having an inclined keyboard and parallel rows of key tops thereabove in stepped relationship from the front of the keyboard upwardly and rearwardly, a readily removable elongated key row marker to rest loosely on the keyboard between a pair of adjacent rows of the keys comprising, a laminated elongated member including an inner colored marker strip, outer metallic strips, the side edges of the laminated member constituting the top and bottom respectively of the marker, the width of said laminated member substantially equal in width but less than the distance between opposed surfaces of laterally positioned key tops of said pair of rows, and outturned hooks on said outer strips to hook behind a pair of the key tops in sliding relation therewith.

-3. A key row marker for the keyboard of a business machine having parallel rows of key tops above the keyboard comprising, a pair of outer holder strips, an inner marker strip held flat between opposed surfaces of the holder strips, said holder strips and said marker strip having corresponding ones of their edges forming the bottom of the key row marker and the other corresponding ones of their edges forming the top of the key row marker, and a pair of oppositely directed retainer flanges bent out of said holder strips to engage back of laterally opposite ones of a pair of the key tops in sliding engagement therewith to hold the key marker in place on the keyboard.

4. A key row marker for the inclined keyboard of a business machine having parallel rows of key tops above the keyboard comprising, a plastic and colored marker strip, a pair of metallic holder strips secured respectively to opposite sides of said marker strip, said holder strips and said marker strip having corresponding coplanar edges forming the top of the key row marker and having the other corresponding edges formed to provide a pair of longitudinally spaced feet to seat on the inclined keyboard, and outwardly bent retainer flanges bent outwardly from said metallic holder strips to lodge back of and in sliding relation with laterally opposite ones of a pair of the key tops to hold the key row marker in place.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 974,937 Wales Nov. 8, 1910 1,127,953 Barrett Feb. 9, 1915 1,870,699 'Iurck Aug. 9, 1932 2,255,909 Avery Sept. 16, 1941 2,714,989 Ellerbeck Aug. 9, 1955 

